Rolf Devinci

Decided to make a foray into the spiced rum category with my latest bottled adventure by purchasing a 750ml bottle of Lemon Hart Navy rum. "Rich, full-bodied, velvety smooth taste built on a firm Demerara dark rum foundation. Complex flavours of sweet dried fruits and island spices releasing a profile of freshly ground nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, butterscotch and ginger all resting on a warm vanilla swirl." How could one resist such a description? The added bonus was it was on sale this week at $26.99 (CDN) at the NSLC and Arctic Wolf had reviewed it quite highly with a sipping potential. http://therumhowlerblog.com/rum-reviews/flavoured-spiced-rums/lemon-hart-navy-spiced-rum/ Upon opening and in the glass the rum was a brilliant copper hue possessing a very enticing scent of baking spices and toffee with an underlying sweetness promising a dessert like quality. A rum candy apple on a stick kind of appeal.

Picked up this Jamaican offering at the local NSLC primarily due to the sale price of $29.99(CDN), a full four dollars less than it`s usual listing price. In my pursuit of affordable sipping rums I had read some reviews on the Reserve blend so figured it was worthy of a buy despite it being aged in Jack Daniels barrels which would most likely impart a whiskey like finish. Not my favorite result. I will agree that it does possess a silky mouth feel with hints of citrus, some oak and lots of spice. I find it has a rather smoky finish with a lingering burn that does not suit my personal taste but its far from being unpalatable. It seems this complex blend of twenty rums was designed as a gateway spirit that good as a mixer but can also be enjoyed neat as a sipper. Over ice helps smooth out the spiciness and finish while bringing out some hints of caramel sweetness but, in my opinion, its best enjoyed as a mixer. Its really a matter of personal preference which is reflected b

Nova Scotia has a long history of trade with the Caribbean and that included rum. There are some local Maritime rum producers hereabouts so I picked up a bottle of Fortress rum from Authentic Seacoast Company based in Guysborough. "Fortress™ Rum restores the 300-year history of the New France rum trade and is created by patiently maturing our select Caribbean rum in oak barrels protected behind the massive stonewalls of the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. " http://www.fortressrum.com/ If you are not familiar with the Fortress of Louisbourg it was a large French garrison on the east coast of Cape Breton that protected the approaches to the St. Lawrence river and the French colony of Quebec. Now a national historic site it is a step back into time. http://www.novascotia.com/see-do/attractions/fortress-of-louisbourg-national-historic-site/1583 Give credit where credit is due. The marketing concept of Fortress rum is really well done and the